An explosion has been captured at SpaceX ’s Starbase facility in Texas, where Elon Musk’s company is preparing to launch its Starship craft in a critical test of the world’s largest rocket.

SpaceX was reportedly performing a deluge test, which involves shooting water at the base of the rocket to counter the massive flames during launch.

The incident was captured by a livestream broadcast by NASASpaceflight, showing a large plume and a piece of debris flying hundreds of metres into the air.

“During a deluge test today, what seems to be an explosive event was observed in the deluge farm followed by the deluge shutting down,” the news organisation wrote in a post to X.

The Independent has reached out to SpaceX for more information about the explosion, and whether it will impact the launch preparations for Starship .

No date has been set for the next Starship flight test, though Mr Musk said on 3 April that it was “4 to 6 weeks away”, meaning it could take place any time between now and the 18 May – unless…